NMA Election Row: Doctors Accuse Audu-led NEC Of Illegality

A fresh crisis has hit the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) ahead of its forthcoming national election in Kano, as a group of aspirants yesterday accused the Prof. Bala Audu-led National Executive Council (NEC) of unlawfully disqualifying six candidates.

The aggrieved members, who addressed journalists in Abuja, described their disqualification as unconstitutional and a threat to the integrity of the association’s electoral process.

One of the affected aspirants, Prof. Ofem Enang, said the decision had sparked widespread dissatisfaction among members across the country, alleging that the move was aimed at tilting the process in favour of preferred candidates.

According to him, the candidates were disqualified for what the National Officers Committee (NOC) termed “incomplete documentation,” particularly regarding the number of curriculum vitae (CV) copies submitted.

Enang argued that the requirement was ambiguously stated in a footnote of the nomination form and did not constitute a constitutional condition for eligibility.

“The decision was not based on constitutional provisions but on technical administrative interpretations,” he said.

“We submitted 40 passport photographs and a single copy of our CVs based on a reasonable understanding of the instructions. The NOC, however, interpreted it to mean 40 copies of each document and used that to disqualify us.”

He maintained that the NMA constitution does not list submission of CVs or photographs as mandatory eligibility criteria, stressing that candidates were neither given an opportunity to rectify the alleged errors nor formally notified of their disqualification.

Also speaking, Dr Isah Mohammed, an aspirant for the office of First Vice President, questioned what he described as inconsistent standards in the screening process.

He noted that some candidates who initially failed verification by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) were granted additional time to regularise their status, a window, he said, that was not extended to those disqualified.

“If others were given time to resolve issues with MDCN, why were we denied the same opportunity?” he asked, describing the process as discriminatory.

On his part, Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo, a candidate for National Publicity Secretary, warned that any attempt to impose preferred candidates could undermine unity within the association and damage the credibility of the medical profession.

Similarly, Dr Baoku Olusola, convener of the NMA Northern Caucus, said the screening process violated provisions of Article 11 of the association’s constitution, insisting that due process must be followed.

He called for urgent intervention to prevent further escalation of the crisis.

Other NMA leaders, including Dr Ezoke Epoke, Chairman of NMA Cross River State; Dr Philip Ekpe, a former Secretary-General; and Dr Ayogu Emeka, Chairman of NMA FCT, also criticised the disqualification, urging the association’s leadership to ensure fairness and transparency.

The NMA leadership had not yet responded to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.